Liquid rheostat.



VENTOR' Patented Dec. 28

K. A. SIMMON L A.1.HALL.

LIQUID RHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION F|LEn1uNEzo,\914.

rhur J Ha/l.

ATTORNEY im s LL 1 .l l l l I I Il I l I l l I 1 I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL A. SIMMON AND ARTHUR J. HALL, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNOR-S TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID RHEOSTAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 13120.28, 1915.

Application led .Tune 20,1914; Serial N o. 846,288.

lowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to liquid rheostats, and it has special reference to systems for supplying electrolyte thereto.

One of the objects of our invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of systems for supplying electrolyte to liquid rheostats, and to provide such a system which shall be adapted to eifect a sudden filling of the rheostat to a predetermined height and subsequently insure a continuous and uniform flow of electrolyte to the rheostat.

Another object of our invention is to provide a plurality of tanks, or compartments of a single tank, above the level of a plurality of rheostats for theI purpose of independently delivering the initial flow of electrolyte thereto, and to provide means for permitting an equalization of the electrolyte levels within the tanks or compartments while permitting the electrolyte in only one of the tanks or compartments to be suddenly admitted into any one of the rheostats.

In the prior art, tanks above the rheostats have been employed for quickly delivering a predetermined volume of electrolyte into rheostats, but, so far as We are aware, the electrolyte has been supplied to the tanks directly and it has been our experience with such systems that there is a tendency to carry air into the delivery pipes which accumulates and forms air pockets that cause a spasmodic flow of electrolyte to the rheostats, and, in some cases, even results in a complete interruption of the flow. Moreover, if a single tank is employed in connection with several rheostats, it has been found that, when a single rheostat is operated by itself, the entire electrolyte Within the tank is suddenly delivered to the rheostat which causes it to flood and renders its operation uncontrollable.

According to our invention, We provide a constricted opening between the several tanks or tank compartments for permitting a relatively slow equalization of electrolyte levels, while restricting the initial volume of electrolyte admitted into a rheostat to a predetermined amount. Moreover, we connect our electrolyte circulating systemv directly to the delivery pipes between tanks and the rheostats and provide valves therein for directing the flow of electrolyte either into the elevated tanks or directly into the rheostats.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan View of an electrolyte supply system for a plurality of liquid rheostats; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation thereof; and Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a plan view and a view in side elevation of a modified system of circulation embodying our invention.

Reference may now be had to Figs. y1 and 2 of the drawing in which the apparatus shown comprises a plurality of liquid rheostats 1 and 2; a main electrolyte-containing reservoir 3 disposed beneath them and adapted to receive the electrolyte discharged therefrom; an auxiliary tank 4 disposed above said rheostats and connected thereto by independent delivery pipes 5 and 6, respectively, having valves 7 and '8 for controlling the admission of electrolyte to the rheostats; an overfiow pipe 10 communicirculating the electrolyte from the reservoir 3 through a cooling radiator 12 and supply pipes 13 and 14 to the respective delivery pies 5 and 6 intermediate the tank 4 and the rheostats.

The rheostats l and 2 may be of any Wellknown construction and each preferably comprises a tank 16 having a plurality of electrodes 1T disposed therein, an inlet opening 18 and a discharge opening 19, a discharge valve 20 for closing the discharge opening 19,' and a regulating valve 21 adapted to be raised and lowered in position for determining the height of the electrolyte within the rheostat.

Thetank 4 is provided with an intermediate partition 24 that divides the tank into a plurality of compartments 25 and 26 which are respectively adapted to deliver the electrolyte contained therein separately into the respective rheostats 1 and 2. The partition 24 is provided with a plurality of small or restricted openings 27 which are located near the bottom thereof, and which permit a slow equalization of the electrolyte within the several compartments. A. vent pipe 28 is also employed. p

The circulating pump 11 and radiator 12 may be of any desired construction adapted to accomplish their intended functions and the specific construction of the valves 7 and 8 is also immaterial. l The valves 7 and 8 are located in the lrespective delivery pipes 5 and 6 between the supply pipes 13 and 141 and the respective rheostats 1 and 2 and are thus adapted, when closed, to shut off the supply of electrolyte to the rheostats and to cause the tank 4: to be filled, or, when opened, to permit the electrolyte within the tank l to be suddenly delivered to the rheostats and to cause the circulating system to supply electrolyte directly thereto.

Assuming that the various parts of the apparatus occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and that the circulating` pump 11 is operated to effect a continuous circulation of the electrolyte, the operation is as follows: Electrolyte is supplied from the main receiving reservoir 3 through the pump 11, radiator 12 and respective pipes 13 and 14 and 5 and 6 to the compartments 25 and 26 of the tank l1. `When the tank 4: is filled, the excess of the continuously circulated electroltye is discharged through the overflow pipe 10 and is returned to the tank 3. 1f, now, it is desired to oper# ate the rheostat 2, the discharge valve 2O is lowered to close the discharge opening 19, after which the valve 8 is opened to permit the electroltye within the colnpartment 26 to be suddenly admitted to the rheostat and also, at the same time, to permit the circulation of electrolyte to be directed therein. r1`he proportions of the several compartments 25 and 26 are properly chosen so that the initial flow of electrolyte into either of the rheostats is just sufiicient to fill them to a flush level corresponding to the upper ends of the regulating valves 21. lThereafter, the continuous circulation of electrolyte serves to carry away and dissipate the heat delivered to the rheostats. By reason of the small openings 21 in the partition 211, only the electrolyte within the compartment 26 is permitted to initially be supplied to rheostat 2, and, therefore, the desired volume of electrolyte is retained in compartment 25 for use in connection with the operation of rheostat 1. (Obviously, if the valve S is closed, the flow of electrolyte is directed into the compartment 26 and is cut off from the rheostat 2, after which, the operation continues as hereinbeforc explained.

Reference may now be had to Figs. 3 and 4, in which the apparatus shown difmesurer fers from that already set forth, only 11i thatal plurality of separate tanks 4a and 4J are employed in lieu of a single tank which is divided into a plurality of compartments. The several tanks 4ta and 4b are interconnected by a relatively small pipe 27L which serves the same purpose as the openings 27, as hereinbefore pointed out. Moreover, an overiow pipe 10a is connected to an intercommunicating pipe 10b which establishes a passage between the several tanks 4a and 4b at a predetermined height. A vent pipe 28a also communicates with the pipe 10b. On account of the similarity of the operation of this modified system to that which we have already described, no further exposition thereof will be given.

Although we lhave set forth our invention as embodying more or less specific details and arrangement and location of parts, there may, of course, be many modifications effected therein which will secure the beneiicial results of our invention to a greater or less degree. `We, therefore, desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. The combination with a liquid rheostat, a liquid-containing tank disposed above said rheostat, and a pipe for delivering liquid into said rheostat, of a liquid-circulating system communicating with said pipe intermediate said tank and said rheostat.

2. The combination with a liquid rheostat, a liquid-containing tank disposed above said rheostat, and a pipe for delivering liquid into said rheostat, of a system for continuously circulating liquid through said tank and communicating with said pipe below said tank and above said rheostat.

3. rli`he combination with a liquid rheostat, a liquid-containing tank disposed above said rheostat, and a pipe for delivering liquid into said rheostat, of a valve in said pipe for controlling the admission of liquid into said rheostat, and means for supplying liquid to said pipe between said valve and said tank. f

L1. The combination with a tank, a rheostat disposed below said tank, and a main liquid-receiving reservoir beneath said rheostat, of an overflow communication between said tank and said reservoir, another delivery communication between said tank and said rheostat, means for continuously supplying liquid to said tank or said rheostat from an intermediate point in the delivery communication between them, and means for directing the supply of liquid into said tank or said rheostat.

5. r1`he combination with a tank, a rheostat disposed below said tank and av main liquid-receiving reservoir beneath said rheostat, of an overflow pipe between said tank and said reservoir, a delivery pipe between said tank and said rheostat, means for continuously circulating the liquid in said receiving reservoir and supplying it to an intermediate point in said delivery pipe, and a valve for directing its flow into said tank or into said rheostat.

6. The combination with a plurality of liquid rheostats, and a plurality of tanks disposed above said rheostats and having a constricted communicating passage between them, of independent delivery pipes between said tanks and their respective rheostats,v

and means for supplying liquid to said tanks.

7. The combination with a plurality of liquid rheostats and a plurality of tanks disposed above said rheostats, of means for supplying liquid to said tanks, independent means for governing the How of liquid into said rheostats, and means for permitting the liquid levels in the several tanks to equalize.

8. rThe combination with a'plurality of liquid rheostats, and a plurality of tanks disposed above said rheostats, of a constricted passage between said tanks to per.- mit an equalization of liquid levels, a plurality of delivery pipes between the several tanks and their respective rheostats, av system for supplying liquid to the several delivery pipes, and a plurality of valves severally connected in said pipes for directing the supply of liquid into saidl` tanks or into said rheostats.

.9. The `combination with a plurality of liquid rheostats, and a plurality of tanks disposed above said rheostats and independently connected thereto for supplying an initial flow of electrolyte to said rheostats, of a system of continuously circulating electrolyte for filling said tanks, means for directing the circulation of electrolyte directly into said rheostats, and means for effecting an equalization of liquid within said tanks. 10. The combination with a plurality of liquid rheostats, a tank disposed above said rheostats and partitioned into compartments having a constricted opening between them, of separate pipes for independently supplying electrolyte from said tank compartments to the respective rheostats, and means for filling said tank with electrolyte.

11. The combination with a plurality of liquid rheostats, and a tank disposed above said rheostats, of separate pipes between said tank and the several rheostats, means for supplying electrolyte to said pipes, means lfor directing said electrolyte into said tank or into said rheostats, and a partition provided with a rel-atively small opening and dividing said tank into a plurality of com-` partments.

12. The combination with a receptacle, a liquid-containing reservoir disposed above said receptacle and means communicating between said reservoir and receptacle for delivering liquid to said. receptacle, of a liquid-circulating system :for supplying liquid to said reservoir or ksaid receptacle and connected to said communicating means intermediate said reservoir and said receptacle.

13. The combination with a plurality of .receptacles and a plurality of liquid-com taining compartments disposed above said receptacles, of means for supplying liquid lto said compartments, independent means forgoverning the flow of liquid into said receptacles, and means intermediate the several compartments for permitting an equalizationoi' the levels of the liquid contained therein.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 16th day of June,

KARL A. SIMMON. y ARTHUR J. HALL. Witnesses: 

